Coupling



Patented ug.- 39, v19,32v

cournnve i Application sled August 24, 1931, sei-iai Nol. Lfsxae,\csg, 111e in, enaaay august ia'ieao.

This invention relates to improvements in couplings between rotating shafts of variable eccentricity and a uniform angular velocity, and more particularly to an individual axle drive for power driven vehicles.

lV hen a shaft susceptible of variations in its position, such as the axle of the traction wheels of a power driven vehicle, is to be y driven from the fixed position shaft of a source of power it is necessary that some coupling means be provided to allow for the variations in relative position of the two shafts. An example of the'condition above given is to be found in the drives of vehicles such vas an electric locomotive, in which the axle of each pair of traction wheels is to be driven from an electric motor mounted on a frame which is usually spring supported from the wheel axles. The motor shaft will be relatively fixed in its position, but the position of the wheel axle to be driven will vary within wide limits relative to the motor shaft, due to the lack of uniformity in the level of the wheels. A fixed speed ratio between the motor shaft and the driving wheel axle is' however desired. A coupling must therefore be provided between the relatively fixed position motor shaft and the variable 36 position axle of the traction wheels to permit variable eccentricity unavoidably present and at the fixed speed ratios desired.

It is, therefore, among the objects of the present invention, to provide a coupling` for use between two shafts of variable eccen- Atricities which are to rotate at a substantially equal angular velocity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. coupling for use between two shafts of variable eccentricity in which the shafts are so connected by levers as to secure rotation of the shafts at a uniform angular velocity regardless of the relative positions of the shafts.

Another object of the invention is to pros vide a coupling between two rotating ele ments of variable eccentricity which coupling will permit relative vertical and lateral movement therebetween, independently of rotation of the shaft and of the axle at the Y 'fhereln- .assumedtobe 'the axle of a pair of ithe relative angular rotation of such ellements. 1 y

Objects and advantages, other than those above; set forth, .vifllbe lapparent 'from the following description when read'iii-'connec-V tion with the 'accompanying drawing in which:v `i f' .v I f Fig. l illustrates one embodiment'olf the .present invention taken onthe line A--A- of F ig. 2, 1 c

Fig. 2 is aside elevation offa coupling` according 'tofthe' present invention with a -ing byoharacters .of reference, the reference 6 designates la hollow'gear ysupported by .bearings -7 from. a frame .8. only! a fragment .of .which is shown) of a power 'driven vehicle.

The Agear is adapted-f to be 'driven froma source of, power .(not shown) hav-'ing a fixed r.driving shaft position relative to-theframe ofthe vehicle. '.The'shaft toflbe 1.driven is .partially shownat V.11 and rextends through thewgear -6 -.s o as .'to be relatively movable thereinin avertical or horizontal plane without contactwithfthefhubs of the gear.

The driving gear 6 andthe driven shaft 171,1

'traction .wheels l(not shown), arecoupled in -such'manner that .the axes of rotation may assume `any position relative to each f other. The gear gffis provridedwith a .plural-ity of f Vengaging gearsegments l2 and 13 pivotally `-moun=ted therein at 1141 and land the' shaft 111 provided with a cranklhaving two arms 17 and ,1: 8extending 'atan angle fromthe shaft Ion Ytheside .thereof opposite vthe gear segments 12 andflSLfEach ofthe gear segmentsa're .connectedwith-one armiofthe crankfby means. of a pair of rods 'as atQI and22 which@ are `.joined bypins 23 and'Qthavingspherical,por-

toiassumez :positionsf iina-plan'e other; than a .hollow .driving gear, containing the coupling vertical plane.

The connecting rods are joined at substantially their mid point by a bolt as at 28, which serves to stilfen the rods, to which bolt is secured a weight 29.

The present coupling has numerous advantages over couplings now known for a similar purpose, such as the capability of transmitting greater torques than was possible heretofore, simpler structure and particular suitability for drives of small dimension.' The masses of the'coupling are fdistributed symmetrically to the vertical plane indicated at A-A of Fig. 2 and the Weight 29 tends to retain the connecting rods 21 and 22 in their normal position as shown inthe drawing thereby eliminating any tendency toward binding at the several joints of the coupling structure. j

Although but one embodiment of the invencrank fixed upon said shaft within said gear, and a pair of rods connecting one end of each of said gear segments and one of the arms of said crank, the engaging portions of said rods with said gear segments and said crank 'f being formed as a ball joint to permit changes in the relative positions o'f said gear segments andsaid crank. s

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my naine this 7th day of August A. D.

JACOB BUCHLI.

tion has been illustrated and described, it

will be apparent to those skilled in the art v that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit yof the inventionor from the scope of the appended claims.

The inventionuclaimed is: Y

. l. Ina couplingfor rotating elements, a

e hollow gear, a shaft extending through said gear and spaced therefrom, said shaft being movable in all directions relative to saidfgear, engaging gear segments carried by said gear ,interiorly thereof, a crank secured upon said shaft interiorly yof said gear, and rods connecting said gear segments and said crank.

2.',In a coupling for rotating elements, a

Vhollow gear rotating about asubstantially fixed axis, a shaft extending through said gear and spaced therefrom,said shaft being movable in all directions relative to said gear, engaging gear segments pivotally mounted upon and within said geara crank fixed upon said shaft within saidgear, and rods connecting said gear segments and said crank to permit change of the relative positions thereof.

3. In a coupling for rotating elements, a hollow gear rotating about a substantially fixed axis, a shaft extending through said gear and spaced therefrom, said shaft being `movable in all directions relative to said gear,

gear and spaced therefrom, said shaft being movable in all directionsrelative tosaid gear, engaging' gear segments pivotally mounted vupon and within said gear, a doublearmed lli) ISO 

